Sept 19: VL vs Brooklyn

It was a hot day in Red Hook, where the Leonas travelled to play Brooklyn Women this Saturday. The field was good-sized, but pebbly and very, very dusty. In fact, during many of the chases, it was like being a wildebeest during a stampede in the Serengeti! Brooklyn put up a decent fight, but were out-sized in the forwards and out-paced by the Lions backs, who ran in 7 unanswered tries, for a final score of 49-0.

Rosie Rough got the scoring started a few minutes into the first half, receiving the ball after a ruck at the Lions 22, and slipping her way downfield to score between the posts.

“Watching Rosie score the first try was great motivation, and really amped up the team to bring the game back onto our level,” said Silent Force and tighthead prop, Kelly Rogers.

Many of the tries bore a similar stamp, with SF Rogers and the fowards winning ball off a set piece or in the loose, and the backs capitalizing on the space created. Here’s a summary:

-Jackie Finlan receives the ball off a scrum, kicks it forward, Kim D’Acres recovers it, takes the ball to Brooklyn’s ten, then pops of to Rosie from the tackle, who scores.

-Lions lineout at Brooklyn’s 22, ball is caught and driven 5 meters, passed through hands to Kathleen Ryan, Woman of the Match, who sprints it down the sideline and scores. The fullback had a stellar game, with decisive, powerful play, and 2 conversions in addition to the try.

-Off of 2 phases of forward punches, ball is spun out to Rough at Brooklyn’s 22, she runs it in and centers the try.

-Finlan kicks from Lion’s 22, Rough and D’Acres chase, Rough retrieves, then dishes to D’Acres who scores under the posts.

The flurry of tries at the end of the first half was the most cohesive part of the game for the Lions. As noted by SF Rogers, “Once the team shifted gears and started playing basic Lions rugby towards the second part of the first half, everything pretty much fell back together. We then were able to bring clean ball out to the backs.”

The successful first half caused the Lions to let their foot off the gas a little in the second half, making for a slightly scrappier game.

Becca Asser started off the scoring in the second half, with a 20-yard run. The next try was a nice display of teamwork, with the forwards winning the ball at the scrum, then the backs passing it through hands, ending at Finlan, who had the try. All in all, the Lions backs had a field day, taking full advantage of the opportunties they were given, and handing in a clean win. (Actually it was a really, really grimy win, but the play was clean.)

Scores: Rough 3T, Ryan T 2C, D’Acres T, Asser T, Finlan T, Warren 5C

Line-up (Substitutions not noted): 1 O’Connell 2 Harmon 3 Rogers 4 Warren 5 Houser 6 Anderson 7 Stanley 8 Collins 9 Asser 10 Finlan 11 Szakacs 12 Rough 13 D’Acres 14 Colman-McGraw 15 Ryan.

After the league game was concluded, the Lions and Brooklyn played an extra 30-minute period. The Lions dominated here as well, scoring 3 tries. Highlights included Tricia Stanley stealing 2 Brooklyn lineouts, and great support in the backline.

Scrumhalf Renee Ovrut ran in the first try off a pop from Megan Collins, and Sophie Denis had 2 tries, one from a quick ruck, and one from a pass out from WOM Ryan.

Scores: Ovrut T, Denis 2T (Conversions?)